The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-18
THE FISHERIES COMMISSION.

Its Powers Are Those of a Free Conference
and 1t Can Make No Definite Settlement.
WASHINGTON, Nov 17-Some confusion ex-
lists as to the functions of the fisheries COM
mission, which is about to meet here, due, prob
ably to the fact that commissions" have hith-
erto been created only by treaty, and had final
jurisdiction over the matters submitted &c them,
whether for the settlement of boundaries or the
adjustment of claims for damages. The present
commission comes together with no other
power than that of free conference upon ques-
ton which has practically been open one as
long as this country has had an existence.
Briefly stated, it has been from the beginning
the claim of the United States that whatever
privileges the treaties with Great Britain recog-
nized due to Americans were original rights,
and were not in any sense grants or concessions,
for which something could be demanded in re-
turn. In other words, when the territory once
under the control of Great Britain was divided:
the partition related to the land alone. the
rights upon the waters remaining common to
the vessels of both nations. This the Britons
have always denied The treaties and arrange
ments heretofore made have been makeshifts
securing recognition of rights in one way
or another, but merely for the time being, while
postponlng the main question indefinitely. The
present. commission may arrive at lnterpreta-
ton of existing treaties exactly defining the
rights of Americans, Or finding that impossible,
It may agree upon notifications be
recommended TO the treaty making branch of
the two governments; in either of which cases
the commission will have accomplished the pur-
pose of its creation. The commission cannot
deal. under its present powers, with the ques-
ton of commercial union with Canada though
it Is not i'm possible that the subject may be re-
ferred it by the two governments before its
labors ended
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain and Sir Charles Tup-
per, who, with Minister West, constitute the
commission the part of Great Br itan TO en-
deavor to secure settlement of the vexed fish
cries question arrived in the city this afternoon
from New York. They were Immediately
driven to the Arlington Hotel where thirty
seven rooms had been engaged for them and
their party. OF these thirty-seven rooms, five
set apart for Mr. Chamberlain personally,
and eight ten others occupied by the
Canadian members of the party and
the two gentlemen from the British
Foreign Office who accompany Mr.. Cham
berlaiI. The other rooms are for the
personal attendants of the commissioners.
Besides the two high commissioners, the party
includes Messrs. Maycock and Bergne of the
British Foreign Office; the Hon. j. S. d.
Thompson, Canadian Minister of Justice; Major
general ID. r. Cameron, official secretary to Sir
Charles Upper: c. G. Chapman his private Sec
rotary, and Wallace Graham, @ c., his legal
adviser The commissioners will be present ted
TO the President. probably, Saturday. The
day for the beginning Of the sessions of the
ference has not been fixed, but it is thought
probable that the British Commissioners will
not require more than a few days for consulta-
ton, and that the more formal work of the COM
mission will begin some time next week. It is
probable that the sessions will be held with
eli Sad T0nrS